In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Leigh Davis, MSPO, CPO, LPO, FAAOP(D), of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Beate Flügel of Heidelberg University Hospital for a conversation about international collaboration, scoliosis management, and advancements in orthotic care.

Drawing on nearly a decade of partnership between the Academy and Germany’s OTWorld, the guests compare educational pathways, clinical practices, and professional development opportunities in the United States and Germany. They discuss Germany’s unique dual vocational training system for orthotists and prosthetists, as well as the similarities and differences between OTWorld and the Academy Annual Meeting.

The conversation also explores current approaches to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis bracing, including the use of Rigo-style braces, the importance of physiotherapy, and strategies for improving patient adherence. Davis and Flügel discuss the role of nighttime versus full-time bracing, the growing use of objective wear-time monitoring to measure compliance, and efforts to standardize digital workflows and advance 3D-printed scoliosis brace technology. Together, they highlight how international collaboration can drive innovation and improve outcomes for patients around the world.

This episode is sponsored by Spinal Technology.

O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, recorded live at the 52nd Academy Annual Meeting in Nashville, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), is joined by Kiley Armstrong, MS, MPO, CPO, research prosthetist/orthotist at Northwestern University, for a conversation on the role social determinants of health play in orthotic and prosthetic care. Armstrong shares her journey into a leadership role with a soccer organization for individuals with amputations before previewing her session, “Considering Social Determinants of Health to Elevate O&P Care and Outcomes.” The discussion explores how factors such as education, economic stability, social environment, neighborhood conditions, and access to healthcare can significantly influence patient outcomes, often extending beyond the clinical intervention itself. Armstrong highlights real-world barriers including transportation, childcare, and insurance challenges that can contribute to missed appointments and interrupted care, while emphasizing the importance of trust building, awareness of implicit bias, and open communication in the clinician-patient relationship. She also shares practical strategies for addressing disparities, including leveraging community resource tools, developing referral networks, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and clinic leadership to better support patients.

O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Seth O’Brien, CP, FAAOP(D), speaks with Lt. Col. Christy “Clock” Kinsey, who underwent a transfemoral amputation and became the first female to return to duty as an Air Force pilot after limb loss. Christy shares the story of losing her right leg in a hit-and-run boating accident and the role peer mentorship played in her recovery. She walks through the challenges of remaining on active duty and ultimately returning to flight status—proving she could safely operate and egress an aircraft, meet rigorous physical standards, and adapt across multiple prosthetic systems for flying, running, and cycling. The conversation also explores the realities of active-duty care, including navigating HIPAA barriers, frequent relocation, coordinating between military and local providers, and planning for deployment. Christy reflects on pregnancy-related fit changes, mental health and isolation, and the critical role of flexible, clinician support in sustaining both her career and quality of life.

O&P Clinical Care Insiders is produced by Association Briefings.